Devices for automatically operating the locking members of automatic couplers for rail vehicles



y 12, 1964 G, D WHITEHOUSE ETAL 3,132,749

DEVICES FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING THE LOCKING MEMBERS OF AUTOMATIC COUPLERS FOR RAIL VEHICLES Filed Feb. 9, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet =1 I nventorS 0 Horn e y;

AVWMQ May 1.2, 1964 G. D. WHITEHOUSE ETAL 3,132,749 DEVICES FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING THE LOCKING MEMBERS OF AUTOMATIC COUPLERS FOR RAIL VEHICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 9, 1962 May 1-2, 1964 G. D. WHITEHOUSE ETAL 3,132,749

DEVICES FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING THE LOCKING MEMBERS OF AUTOMATIC COUPLERS FOR RAIL VEHICLES Filed Feb. 9, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A lorney;

y 12, 1964 G. D. WHITEHOUSE ETAL ,7

DEVICES FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING THE LOCKING MEMBERS OF AUTOMATIC COUPLERS FOR RAIL VEHICLES Filed Feb. 9, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lorne y United States Patent This invention relates to devices for automatically operating the locking members of automatic couplers for rail vehicles, and more particularly to a track-mounted device for co-operation with automatic couplers of the type in which releasing and re-setting of the locking member from and to locking position takes place in consequence of movement of an operating member by the application of external forces in respective mutually-.

opposite directions transverse to the axis of the coupler; and, further, of the type in which the operating member and the coupler body are each provided with a projection extending downwardly beyond the lowest part of the coupler body, with the projection on the coupler body disposed substantially in the plane of movement of the projection on the operating member, or, in which the coupler body is provided with a fixed projection extending downwardly beyond the lowest part of the coupler body, and the operating member has a pin-and-slot connection with a lever mounted on a horizontal pivot parallel to and to one side of the axis of the coupler, the lever extending downwardly to terminate at substantially the same level as the fixed projection on the coupler body. The expression movable projection, to be used hereafter, should be regarded as referring to the projection on the operating member or the lower end of the lever having the pin-and-slot connection with the operating member, as the case may be.

.According to the present invention, a device for automatically operating the locking members of automatic couplers for'rail vehicles of the type referred to comprises a carrier adapted to be mounted between the rails of a track, a transverse slide on the carrier, and a pair of upstanding 'walls on the slide forming between them a tapering mouth adapted to gather in both the movable projection and the projection on the body of a coupler of a vehicle passing over the device, and also forming a throat at the narrower trailing end of the mouth through which the projections must pass before leaving the device, with the width of the throat at least equal to but not substantially greater than the overall span of the projections when the movable projection isv in its position of closest approach to the projection on the coupler body. Thus, as a coupler approaches the device with the movable projection in its position of greatest separation from the projection on the body, and the coupler passes over the device, the movable projection is moved towards the projection on the body until,.when the projections pass through the throat, the movable projection is in its position of closest approach to the projection on the body, the mouth accommodating any angularity of the coupler with respect to the device and the slide allowing for the relative immobility of the projection on the body of a coupler that is-engaged with, but not necessarily interlocked with, a mating coupler during the passage of that projection through the device.

If the position of greatest, separation corresponds to the position of the operating member in which the locking member of a coupler is in looking position, a device according to the invention may serve to release the locking member, by bringing the movable projection to its position (at the throat) of closest approach tothe 3,132,749 Patented May 12., 1964 projection on the body, and the movable projection may be brought again, later, to its position of greatest separation from the projection on the body by means of another automatic track-mounted device, so that the locking member returns to locking position. Conversely, if the position ofclosest approach corresponds tothe position in which. the locking member is in looking position, a device according to the present invention may serve to bring the movable projection to that position, for example, after it has been brought to its position of greatest separation (to release and retain the locking member) by means of another automatic track-mounted device. However, movement of the operating member, otherwise than can be effected by a device according to the present invention, e.g., manually, is not precluded in setting pass out of the trailing end of the throat before either of the projections of a mating coupler engaged with the trailing coupler comes into contact with the appropriate wall of the mouth, so that the slide is free to allow for any different angularity of that mating coupler as well as the immobility of the projection on the body of that coupler, as that projection lies in relation to the device, on the opposite hand to the corresponding projection on the trailing coupler.

The overall height of the device should be such that the upper edges of the walls lie clear of the level of the lowest part of the body of a coupler on a vehicle which is carrying its maximum load, and the depth of the walls should be such that the projections of a coupler on an unloaded vehicle will make sufficient contact with the walls of the device for the latter to perform its required function. However, since it is preferable to limit the length of the projections as muchaspossible, to reduce the' risk of damage and consequent malfunctioning of the locking member, the most suitable overall height for the device may bring it to a level at which at least part of its obstructs the path of the chassis or other part of the underside of a vehicle passing over it. Thus, according to a further feature of the invention, the device is mounted on a support permitting it to yield resiliently and downwardly when encountered by any obstructed part of a vehicle, and the upper surfaces of the device are inclined downwardly towards the leading end of the carrier to below the level of the obstructed part, so that the device will be depressed progressively and smoothly as the obstructed part moves along the inclined surfaces. The upper surfaces may also be inclined similarly towards the trailing end of the carrier, so that the device will return progressively and smoothly to its operative position, as the obstructed part moves towards the trailing end of the carrier.

The support may consist of a horizontal pivot at one end of the carrier, mounted transversely in brackets adapted to be secured in the track, and a spring mounted substantially horizontally below the level of the pivot and connected to a lever arm on the carrier, so as to apply a moment to the carrier in opposition to the moment exerted by the weight of the device, together with a stop enabling the spring to pre-load the device into operative position. The lever arm is preferably short so that little deflection of the spring will take place as the device is swung about the pivot by any obstructed part of the vehicle and, in consequence, the resistance of the device to swinging will remain substantially constant as the obstructed part moves progressively over the leading inclined surfaces of the device. By using a compression spring, acting on the lever arm from the opposite side of the pivot to the device, a greater depth is available below the device for accommodation of the latter when swung.

The device and its support, together with a short length of track aligned with and connected to the base of the support, may be formed as a unit for insertion in an existing railway system or inclusion in a new layout.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and also in relation to one type of coupler that it is designed to operate. In the drawings,

FIGURE 1 is a plan of two automatic couplers of the Willison type intended primarily for operation by trackmounted devices and shown mated together, but with one coupler set for release of the mating coupler;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged side view of the left-hand coupler of FIGUREI;

FIGURE 3 is a view taken from the right-hand side of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a track-mounted device and support according to the invention;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the devise and support of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a plan of the right-hand side of FIG- URE 5; and I FIGURES 7 to are diagrammatic plans showing the progressive action of the device on the mating couplers of FIGURE 1 as they pass over the device.

In FIGURE 1, each of a pair of Willison type coupler-s A, B has a fixed nose 1 for engagement in a recess 2 in the other, and a locking member 3 movable to a position in which it can lie alongside the locking member of a similar mating coupler, the two locking members together substantially filling the space between the fixed noses in order to prevent withdrawal of either nose from the corresponding recess. The coupler A is shown with its locking member in this position while the coupler B is shown with its locking member withdrawn into the coupler body 4 (and therefore out of sight), so that by relative lateral movement between the couplers the noses 1 may be withdrawn from their respective recesses 2. Each coupler is pivotally connected by a bolt 5 to the head 6 of the draw-bar 7 of a vehicle 8 (only one shown in FIGURE 5).

Movement of the locking member 3 in each coupler between locking position (as in coupler A) and release position (as in coupler B) is consequent on transverse movement of an operating member 9 (FIGURES 2 and 3), which has a pin 10 extending rearwardly for pivotal connection to a lever 11 through a slot 12 inthe lever. The lever extends below the pin-and-slot connection to a horizontal pivot 13 parallel to and to one side of the axis or" the coupler, and beyond the pivot 13 to terminate in an enlarged end 14, hereafter referred to as the movable projection, and a fixed projection 15 to the other side of the axis of the coupler extends downwardly from the coupler body 4 to substantially the sarne level as the movable projection 14. The lever 11 also extends upwardly from the pin-andaslot connection It), 12 to' terminate in an eye 16 accessible from either side of the coupler for engagement by a shunting pole (not shown) for rocking of the lever 11 to be effected manually, with consequential transverse movement of the operating member 9 and movement of the locking member 3. However, the couplers have been designed for operation by traclemounted devices, such as the device shown in FIG- URES 4 to 6 and about to be described.

In FIGURES 4 to 6, a base plate 17 is bolted in the bottom of a well 18 between the rails 19 of a track along which vehicles pass in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 5, and a pair of journal brackets 20 bolted on the base plate 17 carry pivots 21 for journals 22, each of which extends downwardly and outwardly from a side flange 23 on a carrier 24 for a slide "25. Between the side flanges 23 the carrier is substantially plate-like and is formed with a wide, shallow groove 26 extending parallel to the pivots 21, the groove having guide surfaces 27 for the slide 25, which has a short central rib 28 depending into a longer, axially-extending slot 29 in the base of the groove 26, the rib being held captive in the slot by a plate 30 bolted to the free edge of the rib and extending beyond the sides of the slot.

Below the level of the pivots 21, a braced lever arm 31 extends to a pivotal connection 32 with the outer end 33 of a plunger 34 projecting from a cylinder 35 housing a pro-loaded compression spring 36, which at one end abuts against an end plug 37 of the cylinder and at the other end abuts an enlarged head 38 on the inner end of the plunger, to urge the enlarged head towards an annular shoulder 39 around a bore 46 in an end cap 41 through which the plunger extends. The end plug 37 has an external lug 42 pivoted between a pair of upstanding lugs 43 on a bracket 44 bolted to the baseplate 17 in such a position that the carrier 24 and slide 25 are in horizontal, operative, position when the enlarged head 38 on the plunger 34 abuts the annular shoulder 39.

The slide 25 is formed with integral upstanding cheeks 45 the mutually-facing walls 46 of which are substantially vertical and converge to form between them amouth 47 tapering inwardly from the leading edge 48 of the slide to a short throat 49, beyond which the walls diverge rapidly to a width 50 approaching the width of the widest part of the mouth, and continue at that width until they finally diverge at the trailing edge 51 of the slide. The upper surfaces 52 of the checks 45 are inclined downwardly at 53, 54 towards the leading and trailing edges 48, 51 respectively, and the portions 55, 56 forwardly and rearwardly respectively of the groove 26 are formed as continuations of the inclined surfaces 53, 54, respectively.

In FIGURES 7 to 10, the coupler A, B are travelling over the slide 25 of the track-mounted device from left to right; that is to say, the coupler A is the leading coupler on one vehicle (vehicle 8 in FIGURE 5) and the coupler .B is the trailing coupler on a preceding vehicle (not shown).

In FIGURE 7, the movable projection 14 of each coupier is in its position of greatest sepanation the fixed projection 15, so that both locking members 3 are in locking position and the couplers are interlocked in consequence, and the couplers have reached the position in which both projections 14, 15 Olf the coupler B have made initial contact with adjacent walls of the mouth 47 of the slide 25, which is in substantially the same position relatlVe to the carrier 24 in which it has been left by the projections of the leading coupler (not shown) of the vehicle carrying the coupler B.

During movement of the couplers A, B from the position in FIGURE 7 towards the position in FIGURE 8, the movable projection 14 of coupler B is moved towards its fixed projection 15 until, at the throat 4 9 (FIGURE 8), the projection 14 of coupler B is in its position of closest, approach to its projection 15, and the locking member 3 of coupler B has been moved fully to release position. Since the couple-rs A, B are following a substantially fixed path, the centre line 57 of which can be regarded as being substantially coincident with the centreline of the carrier 24, and the fixed projections 15 remain a at a constant distance from the centre-line 57, the slide 25 is forced to move relative to the carrier as lthe fixed projection 15 on the coupler B moves towards and into the throat 49', as can be seen from the changein the position of the centre-line 58 of the slide relative to the centre-line 57 between FIGURE 7 and FIGURE 8.

Between FIGURE 8 and FIGURE 9, the projections 14, 15 of coupler B are carried beyond the throat 49 until, as shown in FIGURE 9, both projections 14, 15 of the coupler A have made initial contact with the adjacent walls of the mouth 47 of the slide 25, which is in substantially the same position relative to the carrier 24 in which it has been left by the projections of the coupler B leaving the throat 49.

During movement of the couplers A, B, from the position in FIGURE 9 towards the position in FIGURE '10, the movable projection 14 'ot the coupler A is moved towards its fixed projection 15 until, at the throat 49 (FIGURE the projection ,14of the coupler A is in its position of closest approach'to its projection and the locking member 3 of coupler A has been moved fully to release position. For the reasons given above, the fixed projection 15 of the coupler A forces the slide 25 to move in the opposite direction relative to the carrier 24 as the projection moves towards andinto the throat 49, the position of the slide in FIGURE 10 being substantially that in which both projections of the trailing coupler (not shown) of the vehicle 8 (FIGURE 5) will make initial contact with the adjacent walls of the mouth 47. The greater width 50 beyond the throat 49 ensures that the fixed projection 15 of the coupler B cannot obstruct the movement of the slide under the influence of the fixed projection 15 of the coupler A.

The mouth accommodates any angularity of a coupler that is not engaged with a similar mating coupler, although the device is intended for use mainly with a succession of vehicles whose couplers are engaged and interlocked.

Because the length of the projections 14, 15 has been limited as much as possible, to reduce the risk of damage and consequent malfunction of the locking member, the overall height of the device and support brings the slide 25 to a level at which it obstructs the path of a part 59 (FIGURE 5) of the underside of each of the vehicles passing over However, when the leading end 60 of the obstructed part 59 encounters the forward inclined surfaces 53 of the slide 25, or, if the vehicle is heavily loaded, the inclined portion 55 of the carrier 24, the slide and carrier will be depressed progressively and smoothly as the leading end of the obstructed part moves along the inclined surfaces 53 until the obstructed part moves over the surfaces 5-2 and the trailing end 61 of the obstructed part rides along the surfaces 52 and the rearward inclined surfaces 54 of the slide, so that the slide and carrier return progressively and smoothly to their operative position, the trailing end 61 of the obstructed part finally leaving the surfaces 54 or, if the vehicle is heavily loaded, the inclined portion 56 of the carrier 24, when the slide and carrier have attained their operative position.

Resetting of the locking members to locking position may be eifected by another and appropriate track mounted device (not shown) adapted to move the movable projections 14 back to the position of greatest separation from their respective fixed projections 15, for example after shunting or other operations have been performed with the couplers released from each other or from other similar mating couplers.

What we claim is:

1. A device for automatically operating the locking members of automatic couplers tor rail vehicles, each coupler being of the type having a fixed downwardly-extending projection towards one side of the coupler and a downwardly-extending movable projection towards the other side of the coupler, movement of the locking member between locking and release positions being consequent upon relative approaching movement of the projections, and the device comprising a carrier for mounting between the rails of a track, a transverse slide on the carrier, and a pair of upstanding walls on the slide converging from one end to form between them a tapering mouth for gathering in both the movable projection and the fixed projection on a coupler of a vehicle passing over the device, the walls also forming a throat at the narrower trailing end of the mouth through which the projections must pass before leaving the device, with the Width of the throat at least equal to but not substantially greater than the overall span of the projections when the movable projection is in its fixed position of closest approach to the projection, the throat continuing at the same width for some distance towards the trailing end ofthe device, but being limited in length .to such an extent that the projections on the trailing coupler of a vehicle pass outof the trailing end of the throat before either of the projections of a mating coupler engaged with the trailing coupler comes into contact with the appropriate wall of the mouth.

2 A device for automatically the locking members of automatic couplers for vehicles, each coupler being of the type having a fixed downwardly-extending projection towards one side of the coupler and a downwardly-extending movable projection towards the other side of' the coupler, movement of the locking memher between locking and release positions being consequent upon relative approaching movement of the projections, and" the device comprising a carrier for mounting between the rails of a track, a transverse slide on the carrier, and a pair of upstanding walls on the slide converging from one end to form between them a tapering mouth for gathering in both the movable projection and the fixed projection on a coupler of a vehicle passing over the device, the walls also forming a throat at the narrower trailing end of the mouth through which the projections must pass befiore leaving the device, with the width of the throat at least equal to but not substantially greater than the overall span of the projections when the movable projection is in its position of closest approach to the fixed projection, the throat continuing at the same width for some distance towards the trailing end of the device, but being limited in length to [such an extent that the projections on the trailing coupler of a vehicle pass out of the trailing end of the throat before either of the pro jections of a mating coupler engaged with the trailing coupler comes into contact with the appropriate wall of the mouth, together with a support for the device, the support consisting of a horizontal pivot at one end of the carrier, a pair of brackets for mounting the pivot transversely of the track, a lever arm depending from the forward end of the carrier below the pivot, a spring mounted substantially horizontally and connected to the free end of the lever arm so as to apply a moment to the carrier in opposition to the moment exerted by the weight of the device, and a stop enabling the spring to pre-load the device into operative position, the upper surfaces of the device being inclined downwardly towards the leading end of the carrier to below the level of the obstructed part, so that the device will be depressed progressively and smoothly as the obstructed part moves along the inclined surfiaces.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein the upper surfaces of the device are also inclined downwardly towards the trailing end of the carrier to below the level of the obstructed part, so that the device will return progressively and smoothly to its operative position, as the obstructed part moves towards the trailing end of the carrier.

4. A device for automatically operating the locking members of automatic couplers for rail vehicles, each coupler being of the type having a fixed downwardly-extending projection towards one side of the coupler and a downwardly-extending movable projection towards the other side of the coupler, movement of the locking member between locking and release positions being consequent upon relative approaching movement of the projections, and the device comprising a carrier for mounting between the rails of a track, a transverse slide on the carrier, and a pair of upstanding walls on the slide converging from one end to [form between them a tapering mouth for gathering in both the movable projection and the fixed projection on a coupler of a vehicle passing over the device, the walls also forming a throat at the narrower trailing end of the mouth through which the projections must pass before leaving the device, with the width of the throat at least equal to but not substantially greater than the overall span of the projections when the movable projection is its position of closest approach to the fixed projection, the throat continuing at the same Width for some distance'towards the trailing end of the device, but being limited in length to such an extent that the projections von the trailing coupler of a vehicle pass out of the trailing end of the throat before either of the projections mounted substantially horizontally and connected to the free end of the lever arm firom the'opposite sideof the pivot to the device so as to apply a moment to the car-I m'er in opposition to the moment exerted by the weight of the device, and a stop enabling the spring to pre-load 8 the device into operative position, the upper surfaces of the device being inclined downwardlv towards the leading end of the canier to below the level of the obstructed part, so that the device will be depressed progressively and smoothly as the obstructed part moves along the inclined surfaces.

5. A device as in claim 4, wherein the upper surfaces of the device are also inclined downwardly towards the mailing end of the carrier to beiow the level of the obstructed part, so that the device will return progressively and smoothly to its operative position, as the obstructed part moves towards the trailing end of the carrier.

, References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,631,740 Watson Mar. 17, 1953 Pritchard June 26, 1951 

1. A DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY OPERATING THE LOCKING MEMBERS OF AUTOMATIC COUPLERS FOR RAIL VEHICLES, EACH COUPLER BEING OF THE TYPE HAVING A FIXED DOWNWARDLY-EXTENDING PROJECTION TOWARDS ONE SIDE OF THE COUPLER AND A DOWNWARDLY-EXTENDING MOVABLE PROJECTION TOWARDS THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COUPLER, MOVEMENT OF THE LOCKING MEMBER BETWEEN LOCKING AND RELEASE POSITIONS BEING CONSEQUENT UPON RELATIVE APPROACHING MOVEMENT OF THE PROJECTIONS, AND THE DEVICE COMPRISING A CARRIER FOR MOUNTING BETWEEN THE RAILS OF A TRACK, A TRANSVERSE SLIDE ON THE CARRIER, AND A PAIR OF UPSTANDING WALLS ON THE SLIDE CONVERGING FROM ONE END TO FORM BETWEEN THEM A TAPERING MOUTH FOR GATHERING IN BOTH THE MOVABLE PROJECTION AND THE FIXED PROJECTION ON A COUPLER OF A VEHICLE PASSING OVER THE DEVICE, THE WALLS ALSO FORMING A THROAT AT THE NARROWER TRALING END OF THE MOUTH THROUGH WHICH THE PROJECTIONS MUST PASS BEFORE LEAVING THE DEVICE, WITH THE WIDTH OF THE THROAT AT LEAST EQUAL TO BUT NOT SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE OVERALL SPAN OF THE PROJECTIONS WHEN THE MOVABLE PROJECTION IS IN ITS FIXED POSITION OF CLOSEST APPROACH TO THE PROJECTION, THE THROAT CONTINUING AT THE SAME WIDTH FOR SOME DISTANCE TOWARDS THE TRAILING END OF THE DEVICE, BUT BEING LIMITED IN LENGTH TO SUCH AN EXTENT THAT THE PROJECTIONS ON THE TRAILING COUPLER OF A VEHICLE PASS OUT OF THE TRAILING END OF THE THROAT BEFORE EITHER OF THE PROJECTIONS OF A MATING COUPLER ENGAGED WITH THE TRAILING COUPLER COMES INTO CONTACT WITH THE APPROPRIATE WALL OF THE MOUTH. 